Veloster keeps its lid on

Hyundai denies working on a convertible version of the coupe-cum-hatchback.

02 May 2012Matt Campbell

Veloster

Hyundai has poured cold water on rumours it is building a convertible version of its Veloster small car.

Overseas reports had speculated the South Korean brand was working on a convertible version of the three-door coupe, and digitally rendered images of how a drop-top version could look had been seen on numerous automotive websites.

However, that theory was put to rest today by Hyundai head of global public relations, Frank Ahrens.

"Those are renderings done by magazines - those are not ours," Ahrens says.

"We have an internal project that periodically studies the possibility of a convertible - not just for the Veloster, but we study the idea from time to time to see if it's cost-effective, and so far it has not been. So there are no plans," he says.

"We want to make a profit on every car we sell, so it's got to be profitable from the beginning - it can't be a loss-leader," Ahrens says.

"I know convertibles are a great halo product, but they never do volume, and we really are at heart trying to build a full range of everyday use vehicles for the most people - so it doesn't quite fit.

"The great convertibles - like the Ford Mustang - have been around for so long they have already amortised the cost," Ahrens says. "Doing a clean-sheet (all-new car design) or taking the roof off of something we have now would be an extra expense."